Nearly two decades separate John Adams’s Harmonielehre , one of the composer’s most popular pieces, from My Father Knew Charles Ives , one of his inexplicably less well-known works. The two appear hand in hand on an admirable new disc … » Read

MILAN--La Scala is late to the streaming game compared with many Italian opera houses. But recently it announced plans to stream one staged opera production, a ballet, and a concert each month, distributed live via the Raiplay platform and the … » Read

In November the Opéra-Comique began offering new productions of traditional repertoire for online viewing only. First up was Rameau’s  Hippolyte et Aricie.   On Jan. 19 came a second classic from the French Baroque, … » Read

Brash creativity has enabled the Atlanta Opera to continue performing before live audiences during the pandemic.  Working under an open-sided tent situated on a baseball field and observing strict public health protocols, last fall the … » Read

Despite feeling thoroughly contemporary in its approach, David T. Little's Soldier Songs has a timeless quality to it. The libretto, created by the composer, was adapted from recorded interviews with veterans of World War II, the Vietnam War, the … » Read

Applauded for its visionary programming and its innovatory approach to opera and music theater, New York’s PROTOTYPE Festival has responded to the worldwide pandemic with a global line up for 2021, presenting four out of six of its … » Read

While some arts organizations struggled to keep their balance when the pandemic struck, others found ways to adapt. Some, like New York’s innovative PROTOTYPE Festival, which opened January 8, even managed to thrive, devising ingenious ways … » Read

When it comes to defying the pandemic, the Vienna Staatsoper has been admirably tenacious. During periods of total lockdown, it has streamed an impressive array of archive recordings, and this fall it was one of the first to bounce back with live … » Read

It was beginning to look as if Roberto Alagna’s aspirations to sing Lohengrin might be jinxed. He was scheduled to take the role at the 2018 Bayreuth Festival but canceled reportedly because overwork prevented him from spending enough time … » Read

MILAN--Few events in classical music can match the opening night of La Scala for momentousness and public spectacle. In the weeks before, the production, guest list, and gala dinner menu are subject to intense scrutiny and endless media coverage. … » Read